Fellowship & Community
African American Fraternal Organizations

This exhibit brings together digitized materials from across several special collections held by the Thomas G. Carpenter Library that contain ephemera and images related to African American fraternal organizations and civic societies.

African American Fraternal Associations in the 19th century through the mid-20th century were brotherhoods and sisterhoods that provided mutual aid, engaged in community service, and were active in labor struggles and social change. African American Fraternal Orders supported civil rights and protected members during monetary and physical hardships. They worked on improving lives outside of the large African American churches in Jacksonville and throughout the United States.

Curated by Tracey Britton and Courtenay McLeland
Selected Bibliography by Rachel Dobbs